Kris Radlinski has disclosed for the first time how close Owen Farrell came to switching codes to join Wigan - and why he believes it is now unlikely to happen. Radlinski, the Warriors' chief executive, has known the England union star his entire life as he played alongside his father, Andy, in what he describes as "probably the greatest rugby side of all time." The full-back legend revealed in an interview with Planet Rugby that he discussed the possibility of Farrell making a cross-code switch as recently as last year.

Despite these discussions, Farrell has since announced his retirement from union's Test arena and will be joining French club Racing 92 on a two-year deal this summer. Radlinski reflected on his long-standing relationship with Farrell, stating, "Owen has been a part of my life for 20 years. He has always been around our club and our training sessions since he was a young child, and I have always asked him, 'Do you ever want to play for Wigan?'" He further explained that their most recent conversations about a potential move to Wigan occurred about six or seven months ago when Farrell's future at Saracens was uncertain.

Despite the close discussions, Radlinski now believes that it is unlikely for Farrell to play for Wigan due to his upcoming move to Racing 92. Radlinski also reminisced about his own experiences with cross-code decisions, revealing that he turned down a lucrative offer from Sir Clive Woodward in 2001 in order to stay with Wigan. While Radlinski and Farrell will continue to support Wigan, Radlinski has accepted that Farrell's playing days at the club may never materialize.

He stated, "Could it still happen? I probably think it's one contract too far now. Owen is going overseas for a couple of years." Radlinski noted that transitioning to a new sport at this stage of his career would be challenging for Farrell. Reflecting on his debut at Twickenham in 1996, Radlinski recalled the crowd's enthusiasm for rugby league during the Middlesex Sevens tournament. He also spoke fondly of learning from rugby icons like Martin Offiah, Shaun Edwards, and Andy Farrell during his early years as a player.

Despite the unlikelihood of Farrell playing for Wigan, Radlinski expressed gratitude for the opportunity to learn from legends of the game, shaping his career and personal growth.